judge's sweet tooth. got to change this one. okay. say goodbye to a fan favorite. fruit striped gum. candy company has announced they will be discontinuing this iconic gum featuring the zebra. even though the tastes only lasts about 30 seconds. its memory will stick around forever. and it is lining my gut because i always swallow the gum. >> harold: 24 seasons with the new england patriots coach belichick great partnerships in sports. one of the great protagonists and dynasties in sports. congrats to mr. belichick and mr. kraft. >> jesse: kevin knee land at 8:00 eastern, there he is, everybody. kevin kneeland. >> ask him to do my show. >> dana: that's it for us. have great night, everybody. hey, bret kevin, a big get.

good evening. i'm bret baier. middle east powder keg as iran seizes control of a tanker in the gulf of imam and iranian backed proxy groups have launched 130 attacks on u.s. troops in the region as the world awaits a response. senior national correspondent hitch edson has the latest from the pentagon, good evening, rich. >> good evening, bret. >> this is the same ship that last year the u.s. justice department seized for violating sanctions. it was carrying iranian oil then and iranian state media outlet says bordering the ship today is retaliation for the u.s. seize it's a year ago example of iranian maligned activity threatening security and stability in the reasonable. we call on iran to release the tanker and the crew immediately. >> the pentagon says the tanker flagged to the marshall islands. for weeks iran backed houthi

rebels have been attacking commercial shipping on the red sea. on tuesday they launched their largest, most complex attack yet. the pentagon says f-1s from the carrier uss eisenhower along with guided missile destroyers from the u.s. and u.k. navies shot down 18 drones, two cruise missiles, and a ballistic missile. u.s. central command says this morning the houthis fired another antiship ballistic missile into a busy international shipping lane in the gulf of aden, the 28th attack since november 19th. the u.s. and allies have been weighing how to respond. secretary of state anthony blinken warned there will be consequences for the houthi's actions. yesterday chairman of the joint chiefs of staff general c.q. brown spoke with counterpart about houthi attacks. on land there have been at least 130 attacks by iran backed militias against u.s. forces in iraq and syria since october 17th. including 16 since the east coast of january 1st. that's when defense secretary

lloyd austin was hospitalized. austin is still in the hospital. the pentagon says he is in good condition. the secretary went into the hospital new year's day following complications from surgery last month for prostate cancer. he kept the public and president in the dark for days. the pentagon says it's initiating a review and republicans and democrats have criticized the secretary and have promised to investigate. now, the pentagon's inspector general says it's launching an investigation into the actions at the pentagon involving his absence, bret. back to you. >> bret: okay. rich edson at the pentagon. rich, thank you. turning now to news now here in the u.s. president biden's son hunter in court a short time ago in los angeles for a hearing facing nine federal income tax charges. correspondent david spunt is there right now. good evening, david. >> david: bret, good evening. hunter biden pleaded not guilty to all nine charges. three are felonies. this will head to trial here in los angeles on june 20th, smack

dab in the middle of hunter's dad's re-election campaign for president special counsel david weiss indicted the first son last months. he says hunter biden didn't pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes despite having plenty of money to do so. it's been paid back. hunter arrived with his team and left with his team in l.a. he met before a federal judge for about 30 minutes and he was somewhat stoic in court. stood next to his attorney relatively relaxed. leaning back in his chair a few times. his attorney abbe lowell said we had a resolution and things happened. unusual when the government says you don't have a contract and we say we do. referring to the now dead plea deal from over the summer that fell apart in july, bret, when a delaware federal judge criticized the deal offered by david weiss, now the special counsel. an attorney on weiss' team said today in front of hunter and the judge that pleas fall through all the time. according to the indictment, the government says instead of paying taxes, hunter spent his money on women, clothing, and health and beauty products.

hunter is also charged with federal firearms violations in delaware. he allegedly lied about his substance abuse on a federal firearm form and owned a gun in 2018 for less than two weeks. that case is moving toward trial but slowly in delaware, bret. and, of course, just yesterday, the president's son made a surprise appearance at his own contempt hearing on capitol hill in washington. he left after a few minutes and then took the flight back promptly here to los angeles, california. the next hearing in this case takes place in l.a. on march 27th. it's possible, bret, a plea deal could be worked out with special counsel david weiss but all indications are hunter biden is going to fight this one until the verdict. bret? >> bret: david spunt, live outside the courthouse in los angeles. david, thanks. former president donald trump did not make his own official closing argument at his civil fraud trial today in manhattan. but, he was still able to have his say in court and outside of it.

correspondent nate foy is in new york tonight with specifics. >> closing arguments are over. and former president donald trump's $370 million civil fraud trial in new york. >> they tonight have any facts. they don't have any evidence against us. >> trump, unexpectedly spoke on his own behalf in court today. when justice arthur engoron told trump's attorneys to control him. as the former president maintained his innocence, saying he is the victim of fraud, and political persecution. by new york attorney general letitia james. who wants to ban trump from ever doing business in new york. >> she is using this to paint a canvas that donald trump is a fraudster because they can't beat him in the polls. >> attorney general james claims trump, his two adult sons, eric and don jr., and trump organization executives defrauded banks and insurance companies by inflating their wealth. she said today, quote: i am proud of the case we presented. and i am confident that the

facts and the rule of law are on our side. trump's attorneys argue there is no victim because the former president paid his loans back in full. trump faces six trials, including a defamation lawsuit trial with e. jean carroll set to start next week. the new york hush money case. the georgia election interference case. and the federal cases involving january 6th and his alleged retention of classified documents. all of them trump believes are coordinated by president joe biden. >> i guess you would consider it part of the campaign because if you really look at it, they are doing this. it's never been done like this in this country. >> after court today, attorney general james said this case has always been about the facts and the law, not politics. justice engoron ruled before the trial that trump is libel for fraud. he said a decision about trump's punishment is likely to come by the end of the month nate foy outside the courthouse in new york nate, thanks.

>> bret: rare good news for president biden about the 2024 election. the new poll has the president ahead of former president donald trump by 3 points in the crucial swing state of pennsylvania. that is a switch. the president's team is criticizing the former president as a dictator following last night's appearance in an iowa town hall meeting carried live here on fox from des moines. all of us -- all of this taking place just four days ahead of the first voting of the election season. the iowa caucuses. congressional correspondent aishah hasnie is in ames, iowa tonight, good evening, aishah. >> bret, good evening to you. you know, former president trump may have all his sights set on president biden but the other g.o.p. hopefuls, they sure believe that they still have a chance to knock trump out of this primary. >> so get excited four days until caucus. >> the reality is --

>> with all the debates and town halls now behind them, g.o.p. hopefuls are pounding the pavement in the final four days before the iowa caucuses. for them, it's not about the polls. it's about who shows up monday night. >> no one knows what the turnout is going to be. obviously with the weather, it could mean it's less. >> the high is forecasted to be negative 1. >> it's going to hurt the caucus. that cold, i think it's going to hurt it, yes. >> how is it going? >> overconfidence could also be a factor. some trump supporters told us they are not caucusing monday night. >> well, is it because the guy that you're supporting you feel like has got it in the bag? >> yes. >> who would you support if you were to go out and caucus? >> trump. >> yeah. you have to caucus. it's really important. you can't just leave it up to chance. >> meanwhile, both haley and desantis reacting to that now viral hot mic moment from 2024 dropout chris christie. >> she is going to get smoked. and you and i both know it. she is not up to this. >> it's not a surprise. these fellows have been talking

like that from the beginning. this has become a two person race with me and donald trump. >> i talked to desantis called me, petrified. >> i served in new jersey and ramadi, nothing about the political stuff, you know, would, quote, petrify me. i don't know where he got that. >> bret you and i might be petrified though in the next couple of hours we are both very, very cold. there is now a blizzard warning going starting tomorrow morning through saturday morning. that is going to eat up a lot of that last minute campaign time. those canvassers, those door knockers will have to be pulled back inside to do phone banking instead. it's going to be a big hit for those last minute campaign push, bret? >> bret: maybe minus 14 on monday. we will see. [laughter] >> get ready. >> bret: stocks mixed today after new data showed another increase in inflation the dow gaining 15. the s&p 500 was off 3. the nasdaq was up a half a point. up next, what president biden is

doing or not doing about the border crisis. plus, is house speaker mike johnson in trouble with g.o.p. colleagues? we'll bring you that story. first, here is what some of our fox affiliates are covering tonight. fox 32 in chicago with winter weather alerts in effect from the plains to the midwest ahead of another major winter storm. iowa and milwaukee blizzard conditions heavy snow and strong winds as well. fox 5 in new york as the city building officials issue emergency work towards historic synagogue and neighboring structures. this comes after elicit underground tunnel discovered earlier in the week crown heights section in brooklyn. this is a live look at knew rio rancho, new mexico. one of the stories there tonight researchers identify a new subspecies of tier ran sorrow thought to be older more preemptive relative of tier ran

saurus rex. a team of bittles from several biologies and new mexico museum his industry and science announced their findings today. they say the discovery reshapes ideas how t-rex first came to be in what is now north america by introducing its earliest known relative on the continent. that's tonight's live look outside the beltway from "special report." we'll be right back. ♪ [coughs] when caroline has a cough, she takes robitussin. so, she can have those one on ones again. hey jim! can we talk about casual fridays? oh sure. what's up? get fast, powerful cough relief with robitussin, and find your voice. ♪robitussin♪ a force to be reckon with. no, not you saquon. hm? you! your business bank account with quickbooks money, now earns 5% apy. 5% apy? that's new!

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♪ >> bret: no major movement tonight on an agreement to address the border crisis. we could know president biden has spoken with house speaker mike johnson over the phone. meanwhile g.o.p. lawmakers are going after several members of the president's team on this issue. white house correspondent period doocy has details tonight live from the north lawn. good evening, peter. peter pledges to fix a broken immigration system but we're a week and a half in and no new bills who wouldn't they

imspeech. >> peter: who to defeat the president, alejandro mayorkas. the latest charge obstruction. while nearly 10,000 illegal alien in border patrol custody on eagle pass december 20th, 2023 when our caudill arrived 14 days later border patrol officials advised they had fewer than 600 aliens in custody. mayorkas says he can't appear on the hill next week hosting a delegation from mexico which has the white house asking extreme house republicans want to impeach secretary mayorkas over the border but now they are mad he is working to address the situation at the border? >> a deal on new money for the border remains i will lewissive. >> from my standpoint nothing is agreed upon until everything is agreed upon. >> neither side seems to be in a big hurry. >> so none of the challenges we face from our southern border to the red sea get any easier the longer we wait party peter

hasn't holy spirit the any meetings on camera at the white house. >> peter: who decided that the american people are best served by seeing less of the president. >> i would disagree. i wouldn't say they saw less of the president. he was out there, again, a couple of states in three days. i think that's important to note as well. >> peter: but, if the president is in town, which he is, we usually see him more, giving remarks in the east room or hosting a guest in the oval office. but the biden team at the moment seems happy just to let republicans who are campaigning in iowa, in new hampshire suck up all the oxygen, at least for now. bret? >> bret: peter doocy live on the north lawn. some house republicans may be experiencing some buyer's remorse when it comes to speaker mike johnson. that's the words on the hill. senior congressional correspondent chad pergram is on capitol hill to tell us why and what that means. good evening, chad.

>> bret, good evening. johnson heard it in stereo from both wings of his party about the spending agreement he forged with democrats and the administration. conservatives insist johnson nuked the deal and start again. they claimed in there he agreed with other conservatives everything we said. >> about what. >> there is going to be a new deal drawn up and that's what we are in the process of doing. >> johnson met at length with house conservatives today. some believe johnson would backpedal on the deal but the speaker said. >> no we had a cross section of members in today. we will continue to have cross section of members. in while those conversations are going on i have made no commitment. to hear otherwise is simply not true. >> house conservatives shut down the floor yesterday to protest the speaker's negotiations with democrats. some on the right regret promoting johnson. >> characterize your level of disappointment. >> one of the worst votes i have cast so far. >> for him. >> in the entire four terms i have served, one of the worst

votes i have ever cast. >> some republicans are pushing a government shutdown until the border is secure. there will be g.o.p. backlash. if johnson agrees to a temporary spending billing. democrats say johnson had better not renege. >> there is nothing more to discuss. to the extent that house republicans back away from an agreement that was just announced a few days aago, it will make clear that house republicans are determined to shut down the government. >> an interim bill may be necessary to avert a shutdown next week. the senate set up a test vote for tuesday. the funding deadline is next friday. bret? >> bret: following it all. chad pergram live on the hill. chad, thanks. federal officials are investigating whether boeing failed to make sure a panel that blew off a jetliner in mid flight last week was safe and manufactured to meet the design that regulators approved the faa

says the investigation is focusing now on plugs used to fill spots for extra exits when those doors are not required on boeing 737 max 9 jet liners. the plug that blew off an alaska airlines max 9 was found near portland, oregon. it will be examined in a government laboratory. >> bret: we're learning new information about one of the key measures we were told to observe during the coronavirus pandemic. turns out it had no basis in science. here is chief washington correspondent mike emanuel. >> when we give guidelines they are only guidelines. >> dr. anthony fauci the scientific face of the covid pandemic now admits to congress the 6 feet social distancing rule sort of just appeared and was not based on scientific data. critics noted it was on that policy that schools across the country based their decision to

remain closed well into the second year of the pandemic. >> the cdc wanted to recommend was maybe 3 feet and, there again, it was probably more of an educated guess than anything based on data. the 6 feet was something that i know the teacher's union wanted. >> a key democrat says fauci also changed his tune on the origin of covid. >> tony fauci made it very clear that he is open-minded on wherever this virus came from. whether it came from the market or it came from the lab. >> that's a significant shift from what fauci told lawmakers during the pandemic. >> you said the overwhelming amount of evidence indicates that's a lab leak. i believe most card carrying viral molecular virologists would disagree with you. >> despite his leading role in the pandemic, the chairman of the house covid subcommittee says fauci couldn't provide many details. >> he said he didn't recall over 100 times. >> now this has become a

campaign issue as two republican candidates for president bicker over who was closer to fauci. >> the biggest fan of dr. fauci was ron desanctimonious. weigh as a big fan. >> a lot of us were telling him to fire dr. fauci. trump's last day in office he gave fauci a commendation. >> both trump and desantis criticized dr. fauci. trump praised fauci in early 2020 and then pushed back. trump did give fauci and 51 others presidential come accommodations on his last full day in office. bret? >> bret: more on this with the panel. mike, thanks. up next, our "common ground" segment on the border crisis and immigration reform. and, later, three iconic football cochesz leaving their teams. we'll talk live to sportscaster jim gray. ♪

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>> bret: welcome back to "special report." time for "common ground"

segment. joining us texas democratic congressman henry cuellar and texas republican senator ted cruz bipartisan, bicameral common ground tonight. thank you, gentlemen, for coming on. the issue of immigration, obviously, front and center. you have the dhs secretary facing impeachment in the house, congressman. and senator, there is a real question about what can get done in a bipartisan way. first to you, senator cruz. is there hope here? >> well, look, on immigration and border security, i don't know. the white house, i think, is very dug. in but what there is hope on is actually something that henry and i worked on together in a big victory that we just had in congress, which is legislation that he and i did together that focuses on trade across the border, legal trade, so not illegal immigration but legal trade and commerce going across the border in particular four new bridge products. two in laredo, one in

brownsville and one in eagle pass. all fowler of those bridge projects were delayed with bureaucratic red tape coming from the biden administration and it didn't make any sense. henry and i worked hand in hand. we brought together democrats. we brought together republicans. and, in december of last year, we passed my legislation that expedites the building of those four bridges, moves forward. that is going to have a massive impact on jobs and opportunity in the state of texas. >> bipartisan success no doubt about it. there are other things that have to get done on this issue, specifically asylum policies, border security, it's very complicated. you have been on here before talking about it. can you work in a bipartisan way to get something done? >> only way to get the job done. if i recall before i get on immigration, i want to senator for the work he did. we're able to do something and it's very significant because in the last year we had more than

$683 billion of trade in u.s. and mexico with this going to allow more of the legitimate trade and tourism. now, on the immigration, yes, do we need to make some changes on the asylum and there is a lot of people able to come, in wait four or five or six years and then get rejected. 87% of them are going to be rejected at the end of four, five years in the future. so why are we allowing so many people in it's a false promise they will not be able to stay ted end of four or five years when they get in front of immigration judge. >> bret: they have this incredible standard. individual incredible fear well founded fear of persecution or harm on account of race, religion, nationality, a particular social group or political opinion if returned. you know, it doesn't seem like the 80% plus that are getting released into the country are

asylum je'kel. >> they are not. >> the administration knows they are not. what is infuriating the reason why alejandro mayorkas is being impeached right now in the house is because what the biden administration is doing is they are defying federal law. the number one question, if you want to secure the border. the way to do it is policy one question determines everything. what do you do when you apprehend someone here illegally. if the answer is you put them on a plane and you fly them back home, the numbers plummet. , if on the other hand, the answer is what they are right now under joe biden you let them go and do catch and release the numbers skyrocket. we came through the month of december. the highest rate of illegal immigration in our nation's history, 9.6 million people have come illegally under joe biden. and it is because the biden administration is ignoring federal law and is just releasing illegal immigrants and particularly with the war in israel, the risk of terrorism,

the risk of our families being in danger from these open borders, i think is higher than it ever has been. >> bret: congressman, have you been very critical of your own party, the biden administration. one of the things you are critical of, about, is the magnet kind of sense of bringing people in to draw them here. california, a democratic governor, running that state, gavin newsom, is expanding healthcare coverage for low income immigrants. more than 700,000 immigrants living illegally in california will gain access to free healthcare. cost the state $3.1 billion per year. governor newsom making the commitment which the state had the largest budget surplus in its history. as the program kicks off, congressman, california faces a record $68 billion deficit. i guess i just wanted you to weigh in from your party perspective about if that is the kind of magnet that you are worried about. >> well, look, there are push

factors and there is pull factors we are talking about the pull fact ares here. look, if you say hey, we are going to give you free insurance, of course that becomes part of the pull factor or they know if you come to the border, ask for asylum, knowing that most of them are not going to be s very powerful we need to make some changes in policy. also need to put moneys in the right places ie homeland security. for example, ice air like the senator said, we got to be able to send a message that if you are not supposed to be here, we are going to send you back to your country of origin that message will really resonate. >> bret: well, it is about singles and doubles. congratulations on the bridge project as a bipartisan success. and hopefully there are more common ground elements to talk about in the future. senator, congressman, we appreciate it. >> thank you, bret. >> thank you so much.

>> bret: you can see all the "common ground" segment the on my podcast "common ground." find that and the all-star panel podcasts under the bret baier podcasts at fox news podcasts.com, spotify, or wherever you download podcasts. up next, why are three of the top coaches in football leaving their jobs? we'll talk with sportscaster jim gray. ♪ ♪ so, no matter what, i'm running this kitchen. (vo) make the switch. it's your business. it's your verizon.

the support of my family and football team. think about the patriots and always be a patriot. i look forward to coming back here but at this time you know, we're going to move on. >> bret: legendary football coaches leaving their team at rapid pace. today relearned bill belichick is stepping down from the new england patriots head coaching position after 24 seasons and six super bowl rings. yesterday, university of alabama head coach nick saban retired after 17 seasons in can tuscaloa and seven national championships six with the tide. and long time seattle hawkeyes head coach pete carroll is moving on into advisory role after 14 seasons. one super bowl championship. he also won a college title at usc. let's get some perspectives and

thoughts from sportscaster jim gray. you know the bill belichick thing you kind of felt it coming, maybe. what were your thoughts when you heard that and his speech today? >> well, it was the end of an era. it is like vince lombardi leaving green bay. you just don't see it coming. you don't expect it. and you hope it never ends. 24 years is a long time, they won six super bowls, 17 divisions. nine time conference championships he just did it all there. they haven't won a super bowl five years. tom brady left five years ago left for tampa bay and won. this built to a crescendo i just think at this point time was up. bill wants to continue coaching. is he going to go chase don choula's record. 15 games away from winning, 347 total games. he is just 15 shy of that so he will go on some place else. >> bret: i should have pointed out mike vrable with the tennessee titans let go by that team and he could be a

possibility for new england. he used to play for the patriots. >> well, i think they are going to consider him. they will probably consider a lot of the guys out there garrard mayo is the guy everybody is pointing. to say he seemed to be the heir apparent but some coaches available now. i mean, just look at what has happened as you just displayed. it's truly the end of an era nick saban leaving. look what he has accomplished and bill belichick and pete crar are a had a career. coaches is very difficult. and when you do it for the length of time that these guys have done with the success that they have had, we are truly seeing. it's not the passing of a baton, it's the passing of an era. we won't see the likes of this ever again. particularly the saban and belichick. it's never going to happen. the rules, the way it's set up, the salary cap. the fact that bill belichick did this in a salary cap era? it's unfathomable? last thing real quick, the nfl

is succeeding. they are just booming. they are having a really successful time. their viewership is up. they are expanding finding the coaches, that's an interesting thing. it's changed. >> look at how many vacancies there are now. you probably have 25 teams tonight who are examining their head coaches. i'm not saying there is going to be 25 changes. we already have 8 or # availabilities at this moment. but you have all of those other franchises wondering should we go talk right now to bill belichick? should we go talk to jim harbaugh? what do you think about mike vrable. even people who think they have people in place. and this could change after this weekend, too. all these teams are in the playoffs but they are going to be examining it, too. it's an unheard of time in the national football league chuck daily was my mentor. he used to say these are all two and three year jobs for coaches. you better know where your next opportunity and job is going to

come from. >> bret: a lot of fans watching it. jim, we really appreciate the time. >> thank you, bret. good to be with you. >> bret: up next, the panel on the presidential race. republican infighting over the house speaker, the politics of covid. we will get that all. in later, a big birthday for one of america's greatestl generation. ♪have♪ ♪you... can make it happen...♪ ♪ try dietary supplements from voltaren for healthy joints.

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witch-hunt. it's election interference at the highest level. it's a disgrace. it's in coordination with the white house and joe biden. >> trump's assault on democracy isn't just part of his past, it's what he is promising for the future. >> i'm not going to have time for retribution. we're going to make this country so successful again. >> i said we would invest in america. 100 new jobs. lowest any major country in the world we have more to do. >> bret: a few days before the iowa caucuses, the republican version. there is still this general election bang and forth it seems between former president and the current president on that messaging. you saw the town hall last night. there was also debate. governors haley and desantis going at it there. take a listen. >> nikki haley is running to pursue her donors issues. i'm running to pursue your issues and your family's issues and to turn this country around. >> he is only mad about the donors because the donors used to be with him no longer with him now?

ballistic podiatry shooting herself in the foot over day saying things she doesn't take questions from people. >> this is not a time you have to have pettiness. i wish donald trump was up on had on this stage. he's the one i'm running against. >> bret: with that, let's bring in our panel kimberley strossel member of the editorial board "wall street journal." matthew continetti and olivia beavers congressional reporter for politico. panel, if you stand by for me. we are getting in breaking news right now. and i want to head right to the pentagon. rich edson is standing by it. seems that a strike that had been talked about may be materializing now in the middle east to go back at the houthi rebels for some of those attacks is that right, rich? >> rich: that's right, bret. we are just getting early details of this right now. according to u.s. officials they are saying that there have been joint u.s.-u.k. airstrikes against houthi targets in yemen. remember, we talked about this just about 50 minutes ago on

this show there have been multiple attacks, 28-some attacks on shipping lanes from houthi rebels. massive attack on tuesday that the u.s. and u.k. had to repel. the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff talked to his british counterpart yesterday. and now some 24 hours later we have got news of these attacks. we're still trying to figure out how many targets, what kind of targets, but we do know joint u.s.-u.k. attacks on houthi targets in yemen, either ongoing right now or just finishing up. bret? >> bret: yeah. both u.s. military and british military beginning these bombings sites inside yemen, massive retaliatory strikes is how it's being described by both nations. now, this is after these red sea strikes. also more than 130 strikes on u.s. troops throughout the region. not only from the houthis but other iranian backed proxies. >> that's right, bret. this is all iran behind things here. you have the iranians backing

the houthis, iranians backing proxy groups in iraq and syria. some 130 strikes against u.s. positions in those countries just since the middle of october. and then on top of all of that, earlier today, you had iran seizing -- iran directly the iranian navy directly seizing an oil tanker in the middle east. iran behind all of these different groups here now the u.s. retaliating in this evening against the houthis in yemen. >> bret: expect more updates from officials as we get them. rich edson at the pentagon. thanks. we're back with the panel, matthew, start with you. this is an escalation not only british attacks significant and larger from what we are getting at this hour. also on the flip side iran directly taking over a ship in the red sea as opposed to one of the proxy groups doing it? >> right. and training the houthis and

sending another ship earlier this year, bret. to kind of ward off american naval interest in the red sea. these strikes, i think, are necessary they are too late in coming in many ways. the question as you got to it, bret, the severity of the strikes. proportional response will not deter the houthis from continuing to harass and degrade commercial shipping in the red sea. it has to be disproportionate response. the administration has to recognize that in the middle east, all roads lead to tehran and they need to have iranians face consequences as well. >> bret: these strikes include, kimberly, tomahawk missiles as well as fighter jets. dropping precision guided munitions seems fairly significant we don't have all the details as of yet. >> i agree with matt do you, let's hope this is a strong response because so far no one

has got the message that america means anything when it says stop doing it. it doesn't get enough attention, but the situation in the red sea is becoming increasingly dangerous not just in terms of all of those commercial tankers that are there and shipping ships but also, the number of allies and american allies that have moved military ships into the region. this is just becoming a sort of perilous situation. the question, in my mind though, is when is the united states or its allies going to directly address iran who is behind all of this, behind hamas, behind hezbollah, behind the houthis. we can continue to tip toe around that but those are the people that are enabling all of this to happen so far we are ducking that discussion. >> yeah, olivia, on the hill, there has been criticism from republicans saying -- i'm thinking of people like congressman mike waltz from florida and others on armed services who have said that the biden administration was as

kimberly mentions tip together disrupting policy and upsetting the apple cart with what is going on behind the scenes. do you have more of that or is there now this sense that the administration is starting to step up and this is an example of it tonight? >> i think mike waltz is a defense hawk. this will be welcome news. i don't know that they are going to be saying that this is enough sort of like matthew laid out. they are going to want to see the u.s. take pretty drastic measures in terms of fighting the houthis, which can be kind of very unpredictable group. >> we knew when hamas invaded israel this would not be isolated conflict area. i think there have been broader criticisms from republicans about what the u.s. is doing more broadly to try to contain sort of these hot bed conflicts that keep arising. >> bret: we obviously, matthew, have this election that is ongoing. we are days away from the iowa caucuses. our latest poll on this issue

about the president's handling of iran president's handling of iran safer. 12 hers. less safe 50%. and it is upside down. we talked in the town halls all this week in iowa. there were questions on foreign policy. many of them had to do with the republican party there it was going to stay engaged or focus on domestic issues. that's where it seems to be the battle inside the party. >> most elections are inside the future. 2024 stands a good chance being about the recent past, which is voters look back at the trump years before covid and they saw or see an era of peace and prosperity relatively stable world order. they are looking at the biden years and seeing high prices, rising cost of living and a growing world disorder that stretches from america's withdrawal from afghanistan to ukraine, to israel, now to the

red sea. voters might want to return to the trump years. >> bret: okay. some more breaking details from rich edson at the pentagon. reu67, what do you have? >> rich: bret from a u.s. defense official they are telling us more than a dozen targets involved in this attack, the united states launched f-18s from the uss eisenhower which the carrier group has been deployed to the region for some time now. most of that aircraft is returned as the pentagon is looking now to see if there is going to be any response from the houthis here. these are the details as we are getting them right now. again, more than a dozen targets. f-18sed from the u is s eisenhower. the british were also involved looking to get more details as they come, in bret. >> bret: yeah. and the question is whether, when the dust settles, we'll know whether this meets what the critics of the administration are hoping for, a big enough strike that sends the message to not only the houthis in yemen but, more importantly to iran

seems like that's a message has not gone through as the attacks are over 130. >> for months in this building and across the administration we have been discussing what the definition of deterrence is and what meets that. a concern from the administration that going too hard on these strikes will spread the conflict that's already been escalating throughout the middle east and trying to find that sweet spot here clearly given the escalation in attacks we have seen thus far that wasn't sufficient. the administration has been talking about sending this message to the houthis that they did not get. and that's why we have this evening's attacks. we will see from here what it does. >> bret: so, here's a question. i mean, we have been talking about defense secretary austin who went in for surgery and prostate cancer and was hospitalized, did not tell the president of the united states, the national security team i think it was three days total he

is still in the hospital. has he been a part of the decision. >> is he in the hospital. he has been part of discussions. not sure about specifically this one. but has been, according to the pentagon, in good condition, we would imagine but, again, it's a hospital. it's not the pentagon. there aren't secure fittings there. he has delegated some of his authority to the deputy secretary. >> we will continue to watch this and we'll have updates throughout the night as we have more news. thank you, rich edson at the pentagon. tomorrow on "special report," we will be talking to joni ernst probably about this but also the monday caucuses. remember, if you can't catch us live set your dvr 6:00 p.m. east, 3:00 p.m. on the west coast. thanks for inviting us into your home tonight. that's it for this "special report," fair, balanced and unafraid. a little breaking news at the end from the middle east. we will monitor it from here. "the ingraham angle" is now. ♪ ♪ >> laura: i'm laura ingraham this is "the ingraham angle" from washington tonight,